Steam generating electric iron



Aug. 31, 1943. H. E. BREMER 2,328,124

' STEAM GENERATING ELECTRIC mon Filed Aug. 25, 1939 2 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR. #mw 5. 519mm? ATTORNEY.

Aug. 31, 1943. H. E. BREMER STEAM GENERATING ELECTRIC IRON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 23, 1939 INVENTOR. I //,4/? Py f. B/Pf/WB? /IIII IIIIIIIII,

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ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 31, 1943 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,328,124 STEAM GENERATING ELECTRIC IRON Harry E. Bremer, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application AIIIllit 23, 1939, Serial No. 291,489

'IClaims.

This invention relates to steam-generating electric irons.

In electric irons of the character mentioned the body of the iron ordinarily constitutes a water reservoir in which steam is generated by the heat of the iron and from which steam is directed through the base of the iron, usually adjacent the point, in such manner as to apply steam to the goods during pressing thereof. The use of such irons eliminates the need for sprinkling before ironing or the use of damp cloths during pressing operations.

As heretofore designed, however, such irons have not proven entirely satisfactory because of an inability to insure against objectionable leakage and discharge of water through the steam outlet. To prevent leakage or discharge of water from such irons is a serious problem aggravated by surging of the contained water as a result of back and forth shifting of the iron during normal use.

One object of the present invention is to provide a steam generating iron so designed as to effectively prevent objectionable discharge of liquid therefrom.

Another object is to simplify and otherwise improve the construction and performance of irons of the character mentioned.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of a steam generating electric iron constructed in accordance with the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a steam-generating electric iron embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with the handle removed and the steam dome shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken a ong the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the forward end of the sole plate.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of closure for the filler opening.

The steam-generating electric iron selected for illustration comprises a closed hollow body por tion ill. preferably cast in onev piece to form a liquid tight water reservoir, and having a substantially fiat bottom ii tightly seated against the top face of a sole plate l2 to which the body portion is releasably secured preferably in the' manner hereinafter described.

In thisinstance the bottom ll of the body portion and the sole plate l2 are provided with mating recesses to accommodate a conventional electrical heating element II preferably separated from the bottom II by an appropriate pad ll of heat insulating material such as asbestos. Conventional electrical terminals are shown at I! mounted at the rear end of the body portion l0 and connected to the element l3 in the usual manner.

The body portion III is secured to the sole plate l2 by two bolts l6 and H which extend downward through hollow posts I! and it within the body portion and which are screwed into the sole plate. The posts it and it are preferably formed integral with the bottom II and extend upwardly above the water level in the body portion so as to avoid any possibility of water seeping therethrough from the water reservoir to the element It therebeneath. The post It and coacting bolt i8, arranged within the rear of the body portion, are accessible through an opening 20 in the top of the body portion normally closed by an appropriate screw plug 2i. The other post I! and coacting bolt l1, disposed within the forward end of the body portion, are accessible through a separate opening 22 in the top of the body por tion normally closed by a vertically extended hollow fitting 23.

The hollow fitting 23 also serves additionally as a steam dome and as a support for an appropriate handle 21 preferably removably attached thereto. The handle shown is provided with a socket 2| fashioned to fit snugly over and about the upper end of the fitting 23 to which it is releasably secured by a tie bolt 28. The bolt 2' is shown extending longitudinally through the handle and screwed into the upright leg of an angle bracket 21 attached by a screw 28 to the top of the fitting.

The hollow fitting 23 communicates through its reduced lower end 29 with the interior of the body portion it, and thus forms an elevated chamber 30 for receiving steam generated from water within the reservoir.

It will be noted that the bore in the post It is somewhat larger than the bolt il so as to provide a clearance space 3| therebet'ween. 'A

. steam conducting tube 32, projecting upwardly from the head 33. of the bolt ll to a point near' cess and communicating shallow channel 38,

formed in the bottom face of the bodyportion the dome.

HI, cooperate with a mating channel 39, formed admission of water from the interior of the iron In this connection to this system of passages. I it will first be noted that the dome is arranged near the front or pointed end of the iron where it will not be flooded when the iron is tilted backward upon its heel into the position of rest so commonly assumed in normal use of an iron. In addition to this however a system of ballles has been provided for preventing surging of water into the dome 30 during normal back and forth movements of th iron.

The system of baflles shown has proven quite effective. It includes a substantially flat ballle 4| extending horizontally across the interior of the iron below and spaced from the lower open end of the dome 30 and preferably slightly inciined downwardly toward the front of the iron, so as to insure prompt drainage of any water deposited thereon. A V-'-shape d baffle having rearwardly divergent wings 42 extends downwardly from the roof 43 of the iron immediately behind the-dome inlet and joins with the rear of the ballle 4| to form a force dissipating trap for the water as it surges forwardly within the iron. Thesmall quantities" of .water which flow past the outer end 44 of the wings, during such forward surging, are free to drain downward over the baffle 4| the dome.

A second V-shaped baflie having forwardly divergent wings 45 is preferably provided immediately in front of the lower openend or the dome 30'. This bafile extends downwardly from the roof of the iron toward the baille 4|, leaving a drainage space 46 therebetween. The wings 45 of this ballie extend into the side walls 'of the iron and provide a force dissipating trap for any v water that may surge upwardly through the rather restricted space 41 between the forward end ofthe baille 4| and the 'front of the iron.

Additional upright transverse baffles 48- and 49 are preferably provided so positioned as to discourage the surging of-water within the irons Baiile 48 extends from one wall to' the other and upwardly from the bottom of the iron to a point slightly below the normal water level, and the baffle 49 disposed forwardly of the baflle 48 extends downwardly fromthe roof to .a level below 1 the upper edge of baflle 48, so that the force of water surging over thebaflle 48 is partially broand consequently do not enter and is spaced therefrom and from the walls of At its upper end the sleeve 54 is preferably provided with an outwardly directed' flange 5| which functions asa deflector for any bubbles which tend to climb up the sleeve.

Water is admitted to th interior of the iron through a filler opening 52 closed by an appropriate plug.53 and preferably formed in the bottom of a depression 54 provided in the roof of the iron. The elevation of the filler opening of course determines the maximum water level in the iron, and in the depressed position thereof shown, the water level is so limited as to assure steam space of ample capacity thcreabove. The

- plug shown at 53 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is screwed into the filler opening 52.

The plug shown at 53' in Fig. 6 is resiliently retained in closed position in such manner as to permit the same to yield and thus relieve excessive steam pressures within the body portion I0. For this purpose a resilient bale 55 is provided with its, ends rockably engaged in sockets, formed in the roof 43 and in an ear 56, disposed at opposite sides of the filler opening 52'. A lug 51 projecting upwardly from the plug 53' is provided with a notch 58 adapted to receive an intermediate depressed portion of the bale 55, by which the plug 53' is resiliently retained on its sea v 1 Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as deflnedin the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a steam-generating electric flatiron the combination of a hollow body portion closed to form a liquid reservoir and steam generating chamber, means forming a steam collecting chamber having an inlet disposed in the top of said generating chamber, steam discharge means communicating with said collecting chamber, and

means including a V-shaped baflie having substantially vertical divergent wings with the apex adjacent said inlet to prevent liquid from surging into said steam collecting chamber.

2. In a steam-generating electric flatiron the. combination of a hollow body portion closed to 01m a liquid reservoir and steam generating chamber, means forming a steam collecting chamber having an inlet disposed in the top of said generating chamber, steam discharge means communicating with said collecting chamber, and means including two oppositely directed V-shaped bailles disposed at opposite sides of said inlet to prevent liquid from-surging into said steam collecting chamber.

3. In a steam-generating electric flatiron the combination or a hollow body portion closed to .fiorm aliquid reservoir and steam generating chamber, means forming a steam collecting chamber having an inlet disposed in the top of said generating chamber, steam discharge means communicating with said collecting chamber, and a; system of bafiies below said collecting chamber for preventing surging of liquid into said steam collecting chamber, said system including a baffie spaced below the top of said body portion but spanning said inlet, and a substantially vertical V-shaped baflle adjacent said inlet and having substantially vertical divergent wings, said V- shaped baflle'being disposed in the space between baiile to form a force dissipating trap for the surging liquid.

4. In a steam generating electric fiat iron the combination of a hollow body portion closed to form a liquid reservoir and steam generating chamber, means forming a steam collecting chamber having an inlet disposed in the top of said generating chamber adjacent one end thereof, steam discharge means communicating with said collecting chamber, and a system of baffles for preventing surging of liquid into said steam collecting chamber, said system including a substantially horizontal bafiie spaced below the top of said body portion and spanning said inlet, said baffle being inclined downwardly toward the adjacent end of said body portion and having an opening at the lower end thereof, and a substantially vertical V-shaped baflle disposed between the opposite end of said first named baffle and the top of said body portion and substantially closing the opening therebetween, said vertical baflle having wings diverging away from the end of said body portion adjacent said first named baflle.

5. In a steam generating electric flat iron the combination of a hollow body portion closed to form a liquid reservoir and steam generating chamber, means forming a steam collecting chamber having an inlet disposed in the top of said generating chamber adjacent one end there of, steam discharge means communicating with said collecting chamber, and a system of bafiles for preventing surging of liquid into said steam collecting chamber, said system including a substantially horizontal baiiie spaced below the top of said body portion and spanning said inlet, said bafile being inclined downwardly toward the adjacent end of said body portion and having an opening at the lower end thereof, and a substantially vertical V-shaped bafiie extending downwardly from the top of said body portion above said first named baflie but spaced therefrom, said V-shaped baffle being disposed in the path of liquid surging through said opening and having Wings diverging toward the adjacent end of said means including a tube extending upwardly into.

said dome for conducting steam therefrom to said discharge means, means including a tubular member surrounding and spaced from said tube, means including an opening for admitting steam from said generating chamber to said collecting dome around the outside of said tubular member, said tubular member forming a cup open at the top to said dome for preventing entry of bubbles mitting steam from said chamber to and through said sole plate.

HARRY E., BREM'ER 

